Final answer:
DJ felt a deep sense of loss over his great-grandfather's watch because it was a personal connection to his past and heritage, and its loss represented irretrievable time and memories.
Step-by-step explanation:
DJ was sad when he lost his great-grandfather's old gold watch because it symbolized a deep sense of loss and the finality of time passing. The gold watch likely represented a connection to his past, heritage, and personal history with his great-grandfather. The watch's loss is more than just a physical object gone; it signifies irretrievable memories and emotions tied to his great-grandfather and perhaps a sense of his own mortality. The grief DJ feels is akin to the profound melancholy and psychological ache illustrated in the provided passages, where characters experience sorrow from the loss of love, missed opportunities, the finality of death, or the abandonment of a cherished home.